WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 30: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder addresses the Congressional Black Caucus Faith Leaders Summit and National Black Churches Annual Consultation at the Renaissance Hotel May 30, 2012 in Washington, DC. Holder told hundreds of leading African American Church leaders that they hold an essential position in protecting and encouraging voting rights in their communities and across the country. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

The contempt vote technically opens the door for the House to call on the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia to bring the case against Holder before a grand jury. But because U.S. AttorneyRonald Machen works for Holder and because President Obama has already asserted executive privilege over the documents in question, it was expected Holder’s Justice Department would not take that step.